Apparatus and methods for microfluidic applications

• US 8,124,029 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lab901 Limited (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Polwart, Stuart, Fearnley, Joel, Roy, Douglas, Ghazal, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Lore
• Application Number:
  US10/496,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20050089449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,380 Days
• Field of Search: 422/502
• US Class Current: 422/502
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00518 in the shape of tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0074 Biological products
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0812 Bands; Tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/161 Control and use of surface tension forces, e.g. hydrophobic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0457 passive flow or gravitation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/505 : flexible containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/007 : Using fluid under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/00 : Shaping by thermoforming , i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor blow moulding of tubular preforms B29C49/00, deforming of tubular or hollow preforms B29C67/0014
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 : Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44704 : Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44782 : of a plurality of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 : Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 : provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 : with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/494 : Fluidic or fluid actuated device making

Abstract

Non-rigid tape apparatus and fabrication methods for microfluidic processing applications such as gel electrophoresis are provided, where microfluidic processing is performed on selected areas. Parts of the tape are formed by high pressure plastic film forming. Membranes and other structures are self sealing during and after penetration by pipettes and electrical probes. Rigid exoskeleton elements protect the non-rigid parts during processing and facilitate transport of the tape.

Claims

1. A microfluidic processing apparatus for use in gel electrophoresis, the apparatus comprising:

a planar supporting layer comprising a pattern of conductive tracks; and

a single layer of deformable polymer film comprising a three-dimensional microfluidic processing area that is formed from and extends out of a plane of said single layer of deformable polymer film, said three-dimensional microfluidic processing area comprising at least one cavity, at least one connecting channel and at least one pierceable access zone;

wherein said microfluidic processing area contains a gel, and

wherein said pattern of conductive tracks are configured to permit application of an electrical field through said gel.

2. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the layer of deformable polymer film is a thin polymer membrane of thickness between 10 μ

m and 200 μ

m.

3. The micro fluidic processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one conductive track connects the exterior of said apparatus to the interior of said apparatus.

4. The micro fluidic processing apparatus of claim 3 wherein the conductive tracks are capable of being applied by screen printing, laser printing or ink-jet printing.

5. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the access zone is penetrable by a sample loading probe.

6. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the layer of deformable polymer film is impermeable to liquid.

7. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional microfluidic processing area is capable of being formed using high-pressure thermoforming.

8. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indexing pattern to track a position of the apparatus during movement.

9. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the indexing pattern is a pattern on a surface of the planar supporting layer.

10. The micro fluidic processing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the indexing pattern is embedded within the planar supporting layer.

11. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said layer of deformable polymer film is opaque, translucent or colored to provide optical isolation between elements for processing.

12. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting layer comprises a thin flat optically clear film.

13. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the layer of deformable polymer film further comprises secondary access ports.

14. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting layer comprises a thin flat optically clear film, wherein the layer of deformable polymer film is a liquid impermeable thin polymer membrane of thickness between 10 μ

m and 200 μ

m, wherein said three-dimensional micro fluidic processing area is capable of being formed using high-pressure thermoforming, wherein the access zone is penetrable by a sample loading probe, wherein said pattern of conductive tracks is capable of being applied by screen printing, laser printing or ink-jet printing and connects the exterior of said apparatus to the interior of said apparatus, wherein an indexing pattern is provided on the surface of the planar supporting layer to track the position of the apparatus during movement, and wherein said layer of deformable polymer film is opaque, translucent or colored to provide optical isolation between elements for processing.

15. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the layer of deformable polymer film further comprises secondary access ports.

16. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 14, wherein said layer of deformable polymer film is adjacent to said planar supporting layer, and wherein said three-dimensional microfluidic processing area has an internal volume that is defined by said layer of deformable polymer film and said supporting layer.

17. The micro fluidic processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said layer of deformable polymer film is adjacent to said planar supporting layer, and wherein said three-dimensional micro fluidic processing area has an internal volume that is defined by said layer of deformable polymer film and said supporting layer.

18. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processing apparatus comprises a plurality of said three-dimensional microfluidic processing areas.

19. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said planar supporting layer is heat sealed to said single layer of deformable polymer film.

20. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said planar supporting layer and said single layer of deformable polymer film are optically transparent.

21. The microfluidic processing apparatus of claim 20, wherein one of said planar supporting layer and said single layer of deformable polymer film is optically opaque.